He can feel his ear tips burning with embarrassment. He had hoped that she would not notice his stutter but it was clear from the twinkle in her eyes and the amused giggle on her lips that it had not passed her. He has half a mind to walk away however the gentle smile on her lips and the shy way in which she glances up at him through thick dark lashes causes him to rethink his abrupt departure. She replies that she had indeed tried the clover and then asks him if he is okay, concern evident in the tight knit of her brows. Shamefully he turns his head from her, dropping his golden gaze down to his own dark hooves. ”N..nno I’m Ff..f..Fine” he murmurs inhaling a deep breath to steady his breathing.
She introduces herself now and he finds his golden gaze drawn back up to her angelic face, admiring the swirls of dark and light hairs that made up the dark and light patterns on her molten coat. Seri. ”Seri” he repeated aloud, finding it easy to tumble over her name without jostling together his own words. Thick raven colored tail twitches against his hocks as he returns her smile with a proud one of his own. He could talk without stuttering in front of strangers.
”M.m.my n.n.name is Akela.” he murmurs, dropping his head once more to absently rip a mouthful of clover from the earth with perhaps more enthusiasm than was needed. Stupid nervous stuttering. He kept silent for a moment, the rule of thumb that it was rude to try and speak around a mouthful of grass firmly planted on his brain from his dam. One of the few memories he still had of her. For a moment he thought over her question. Was he from here? Perhaps it depended. From the islands, yes. He was born here. Was he from the main island and therefore lived here in this meadow? No. Thoughtfully his ears tilt back and forth atop his head as he lifts his smokey gray muzzle to let golden yellow eyes meet her pale silver blue orbs. ”I.I.Imm f.f.from A.A.tlantis.” he says dipping his head in a respectful bow. Despite the nervousness that racked his speech, the initial surprise and humor at his approach seemed to have disappeared from her demeanor. Though his gaze remains locked with her own in respectful attention, he does not miss the way she seems to relax in the friendly companionship that can be found between two strangers. ”W..w..hat about you?” he asks, feeling himself likewise beginning to grow a bit more comfortable with the dark haired girl and even more curious to learn of her roots..